Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic
disease of the skin that causes itchiness, redness and inflammation. It is
estimated that seven percent of the population suffers from eczema. Eczema
often begins in early childhood and can last a lifetime. Given some of the causative factors, it is
easy to see why. Eczema is usually a symptom of an underlying body disorder, so
the secret to your success will be to discover what is triggering the skin
eruptions. It often affects people who also suffer from other diseases such as
asthma and hay fever, or who have family members who do.

The
skin affected by eczema appears red, dry and scaly, and is extremely itchy, and
may sting and burn. If scratched too much, it can crack, ooze, and crust over,
and can even become infected. Eczema may also be moist and weeping, with watery
blisters.

Although
eczema can affect the entire body, it is usually found in specific body areas.
For children, the most commonly affected areas are the scalp, cheeks, chin,
back, legs, elbows and arms. Adults are often affected on the eyelids and the
skin around the eyes and mouth. High perspiration areas such as the creases of
the elbows, knees, hands, and feet are also commonly affected. If you have
splits and cracks on your hands or blisters along the edges of your fingers,
you may have hand eczema.

Eczema first appears in early childhood, often by
the age of four months. The face, scalp, neck, and diaper areas are most
frequently involved. These sites, especially the cheeks, become red and
scaly. Itching is quite severe, and the infant may literally tear apart
his or her skin, leading to bleeding sores and secondary infection. In
most cases itching actually precedes the appearance of the rash; thus
eczema is commonly referred to as “the itch that rashes.” As the child
ages, the disorder tends to localize to the back of the neck, behind the
elbows and knees, and on the wrists and ankles. The involved sites are
dry and thickened, and demonstrate accentuation of the normal skin
creases.

In the adult, atopic dermatitis may be manifested
by scaling of the hands and feet, and by the appearance of circular,
dry, scaling patches (called nummulareczema) anywhere on the
body. Eczema at any age is characterized by moderate to severe itching.
Most persons with atopic dermatitis experience clearing of the disorder
in their late twenties, and by age thirty a large number are free of
disease. About 15 percent of persons with atopic dermatitis develop
chronic localization to their hands (hand dermatitis).

Causes

The
cause of atopic dermatitis is not fully understood. Hay fever and
asthma are associated with this condition. Heredity certainly plays an
important role as nearly 70 percent of atopic dermatitis patients have
at least one other family member with eczema, hay fever, or asthma. Diet
(food allergy) was thought to cause and/or aggravate the disorder, but
this is unlikely except perhaps in the very early, infantile stage.

Although the exact cause of eczema is unknown, traditional
medicine believes it’s caused by an abnormal allergic response of the body’s
immune system. This, however, is quite a limited view. One must look at eczema
sufferer’s whole body, parents, diet and environment to discover the real
causative factors. As the saying goes, the skin is the window of balance (or
imbalance) within the body. Unfortunately most traditional treatments use
steroids, prescription drugs or creams that do not address the underlying
cause/s of eczema and have long-term side effects. These traditional treatments
suppress the underlying causes by addressing only the symptoms. In many cases
of eczema the body is trying to rid itself of toxins. By addressing these
causes you should have very significant
results within a few months.

Since babies often get eczema, called cradlecap, it is
obvious that the problem starts early in life, even before birth, unlike many
other health conditions. In 2002 the
Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology reported that mothers who took
probiotics (the good bacteria) during pregnancy and lactation improved their
anti-inflammatory transforming growth factor (TGF) in their milk. Because there
has been such an increase in allergic diseases, especially among children, one
of the best ways to enhance a child’s immune system is through mother’s milk.
Breast-feeding leads to a greatly reduced incidence of developing eczema during
the baby’s first two years of life.

While we are talking about babies it is important to point
out that there is a direct relationship between excessive hygiene and the
development of eczema and asthma in children between 30 and 42 months. Children
who washed their hands more than five times a day or were bathed more than two
times a day were more likely to develop these diseases. The theory behind this
is that a lower exposure to germs affects the immune system’s development in
such a way that it is more prone to allergic reactions.

Doctors practicing natural medicine believe there are
several main causes of eczema:

Food allergies, especially dairy products, eggs,
grains, soy and nuts

A deficiency of essential fatty acids (EFAs)

Toxic, congested, or malfunctioning liver,
kidneys or lungs

A B-vitamin deficiency

A vitamin D deficiency (lack of sunshine)

A deficiency in chloride of potassium (kali
mur.) – for scaly type

Consumption of too much common table salt – dry
kind of eczema. Use balanced sea salt (about 80% sodium chloride) instead, as
it has all 12 of the tissue salts in proper balance. Sea salt does not throw
the chemical balance of the body out of whack the way common salt (about 98%
sodium chloride) does. We recommend Celtic Sea Salt that can be purchased at a
health food or gourmet store or from the Grain & Salt Society (800)
867-7258. Their website is http://www.celtic-seasalt.com.

A long delayed after-effect of a vaccination
(possible theory)

Poor digestion in general; see next item and
detailed explanation below

Excess sugar, alcohol, chemicals and other
things that disturb the microflora of the gut. Poor digestion and toxins are
one of the main causes of eczema.

Chronic skin disorders directly reflect the health of the
digestive and eliminatory systems. Gently treating the liver, kidneys and bowel
over time with mild herbal remedies can positively affect the skin and should
be the foundation of your back-to-health protocol. The skin is the largest
organ of elimination and is a means of exit of sweat, toxic wastes, gases and
oils from the body. These toxins, perhaps coupled with nutritional deficiencies
mentioned below, may be the primary underlying cause of eczema. A clogged liver
or kidneys, lung malfunction, as well as constipation, may lead to excess
toxins circulating in the blood and exiting through the skin. If one or more of
these conditions exists, it will be necessary to correct it in order to
minimize the skin problem. We suggest working with your health practitioner in
developing a complete body detoxification program so that all organs of
elimination are functioning well. If your kidneys are overloaded, your skin
will take over elimination of toxins and metabolic wastes from the body.
Depending on the severity of your body’s toxicity, you will need to do anywhere
from a several day cleanse to one that may take as long as two to three weeks.
In addition to causing eczema, a clogged or sluggish liver may lead to itching
due to a malfunction in its ability to digest fats. If you are chronically
constipated, see our constipationsection for more ideas. The goal will
be to have 2-3 bowel movements daily in order to flush out the toxic wastes.

Bad digestion can lead to another skin problem – one that
you might not see the connection – itching. Inadequate stomach acid leads to
poor metabolism of calcium, and its symptom – itching. Chronic indigestion will
need to be corrected if you want to see your skin problems subside. Good
metabolism of calcium is vital for skin health. The Omega-3 fatty acids found
in flaxseed oil aid calcium metabolism and should relieve the itching.

Another cause of itching is a clogged liver and
gallbladder. When this is the case fats of any kind cannot be properly
digested, and the result is itching. A complete liver/gallbladder flush will
probably be in order to get these organs functioning normally. The itching
should go away.

The first thing you need to do is to try to identify what
is causing the eczema and avoid that substance. Here are some things to look
out for:

Soaps - use a pure glycerin soap with no fragrance;
some have vitamin E, which is beneficial. A boric acid solution may also be
used. You may also use pure castile soap; dry carefully, then apply a mixture
of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly and borax.

Various foods – keep a Foods Journal so you can
identify what might be triggering the eczema

Dairy products

Eggs

Chocolate

Peanuts

Soy

Potatoes

Gluten found in wheat, oats, rye and barley

Nail polish

Stress – eczema is aggravated by stress, so working on
the underlying causes of stress will help alleviate eczema.

Traditional Treatments

Traditional
allopathic treatment has been to prescribe hydrocortisone (steroid) creams and
ointments and Benadryl to stop the itching. While the creams are often effective,
they have side effects which make them less than ideal for long term use. In
children these effects are growth retardation, obesity, and muscle weakness.
Scratching opens the skin and makes it vulnerable to staph infections. We
believe that natural remedies, coupled with dietary changes and avoidance of
certain chemicals will be more effective without the side effects.

Medical Treatments

Atopic
dermatitis is as yet without cure; the condition simply must burn
itself out. However, the annoying manifestations can be controlled.
Treatment of atopic dermatitis centers on control of the rash and, just
as important, control of the itching. The more one scratches, the worse
the disorder becomes and the longer it takes to heal.

People with atopic dermatitis should avoid any
factors that aggravate sensitive skin. Fingernails, especially those of
infants, must be trimmed as short as possible to avoid digging and
tearing. Clothing should be soft, loose-fitting, and preferably made of
cotton; wools and irritating synthetics are best not worn. Excess
humidity and lack of it both promote itching and should be avoided. Over
bathing and the use of harsh soaps contribute to skin dryness. One
should use a mild, moisturizing soap and lubricating bath oil.
Moisturizers should be applied to the skin on a regular and frequent
basis.

Individuals with moderate to severe eczema warrant
medical care by a dermatologist. Control of itching usually entails the
use of steroid ointments and creams. Topical steroids are safe for
long-term administration but should be used at a lowered potency if
needed on a chronic basis. Oral antihistamines are commonly used, but of
questionable value. Flare-ups may require oral or intramuscular
steroids, and chronic, refractory cases in adults may need methotrexate
or cyclosporine for adequate control.

Topical immunomodulators are the most recent
advance in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Elidel cream
(pimecrolimus) and Protopic ointment (tacrolimus) are nonsteroid
compounds useful in chronic management of mild to moderate eczema. These
may be used about the eyes and in the groin, problematic areas for
steroids. To date, adverse effects from extended use of these agents
have not been reported.

In general, control of eczema begins with the use of more potent
topical steroids, which are then tapered to less potent forms for
maintenance, or to either Elidel or Protopic, both of which are
steroid-free.

TOPICAL STEROID POTENCY EXAMPLES

HIGHEST POTENCY

Clobetasol propionate: Clobex/Cormax/Olux/Temovate

Betamethasone dipropionate: Diprolene

Halobetasol propionate: Ultravate

Diflorasone diacetate: Psorcon

Fluocinonide 1 percent: Vanos

HIGH POTENCY

Triamcinolone acetonide: Aristocort/Kenalog

Desoximetasone: Topicort

Fluocinonide 0.05 percent: Lidex

Amcinonide: Cyclocort

Halcinonide: Halog

MEDIUM POTENCY

Hydrocortisone probutate: Pandel

Hydrocortisone butyrate: Locoid

Betamethasone valerate: Luxiq

Hydrocortisonevalerate: Westcort

Mometasone furoate: Elocon

Prednicarbate: Dermatop

LOW POTENCY

Desonide: DesOwen/Verdeso

Alclometasone: Aclovate

LEAST POTENT

Hydrocortisone/Hytone/Cortaid/Nutracort

Tips

Bathe in warm water, never hot. Hot water may trigger your skin
problems.

Use a bath oil to soften the skin.

After taking a bath, apply a body oil that contains lavender, bergamot,
neroli or Roman chamomile in a carrier oil such as almond oil.

Bathe using one teaspoon of baking soda to a cup of water. Rinse
thoroughly with water.

After bathing use a moisturizer. This will help keep the water in. Dry
skin is a function of water loss. However, some moisturizers promote fluid
loss.

Check to see if you are allergic to something you eat or wear. An
allergic reaction could trigger eczema outbreaks. Keep a daily diary listing
the foods you ate and the clothes you wore. Were the clothes laundered or dry
cleaned?

Launder your clothes by adding ½ cup of baking soda and 3-10 drops of
essential lemon oil to the wash water. A baking soda paste may be used to
pre-treat stains.

Baking soda can be used to make household cleansers and dishwashing
liquid.

To clean the home, use one
teaspoon of baking soda and a few drops of lemon, lavender or orange essential
oil to a pail of water.

Make a dishwasher detergent
by mixing two tablespoons of baking soda with two tablespoons of borax.

Wash your dishes by making a
solution of baking soda and water; rinse with water.

Use unscented body care, hair, bath products and moisturizing creams.

Stop all dairy products for a few weeks, then slowly reintroduce them.
Did you have any reaction? Many people are allergic to dairy products.

Do the same for wheat products. Many people with eczema are allergic to
wheat.

To check for food allergies, remove groups of foods from your diet for
a few weeks, then slowly reintroduce them. Did your eczema get better after you
stopped eating certain things and get worse after you began eating them again?

Is your house too dry? If the humidity in your house is below 40% the
dry air may be drying out your skin.

People with underlying diseases such as cirrhosis, hepatitis and
inflammation of the gall bladder have low levels of the enzyme amylase. When
this level was raised, the general condition of the person improved. See
Enzymes below.

Keep all dry skin moist and well lubricated.

Skin emollients that contain urea may be helpful in relieving the itch.

If you have a bad eczema attack, try using an antihistimine such as
Benadryl to stop the itching. This can make you drowsy, so don’t drive or use
machinery.

When laundering, rinse twice to make sure all the detergent is out.

Since your eczema may be triggered by allergens, go on an allergen-free
diet for four to six weeks to give your system enough time to clean out the allergens.

For babies cow’s milk is the most common allergen, so breast-feeding is
preferable.

If the baby is breast-fed the mother should avoid any foods she is
allergic to.

If the parents have a food allergy, the baby may well have it, too, so
the offending foods should be avoided.

Aerobic exercise is beneficial for eczema as it gets the blood flowing,
but if you sweat, shower afterward.

Do a parasite cleanse. One school of thought
indicates parasites as a possible cause of eczema, psoriasis and candida. Don’t
be alarmed at the thought of having parasites – a large percentage of the
population does, and they affect some people more than others.

Alternative Treatments

An Unusual Treatment

Dr.
Michael Woodruff, in his autobiography Nothing
Venture Nothing Win, describes the use of hypnosis to alleviate the
underlying emotional state that may cause eczema. Since stress and
emotions may
play a significant role in some eczema cases, the use of hypnosis may be
quite
effective.

Diet & Nutrition

Diet is the foundation of health, and skin problems are no
exception. The foods you eat and the beverages you drink must be eliminated
from the body. Your metabolic process breaks them down, but all organs of
elimination must be functioning well in order to avoid problems. Eating or
drinking the wrong things for your body type can cause problems to occur.
Switching to a simple, natural diet of whole grains, beans, and cooked vegetables,
and avoiding meats, milk products, refined sugar and grains, may provide
beneficial results.

Since we have seen in the Causes section above that a
deficiency in essential fatty acids is one of the primary causes for eczema,
you need to understand that eating the wrong
kind of fats may be causing the problem, too. The Standard American Diet is
very heavy in hydrogenated oils and trans-fats, and short on the essential
fatty acids. In most cases skin problems are caused by a fat deficiency or an
imbalance between the “good” and “bad” fats. To overcome this problem you will
need to cut out or greatly reduce the latter and increase the former. Follow
this program for 90 days, and you should have a good probability of success:

Cut out all fried foods

Eliminate all cooking oils that say “hydrogenated” or
“partially hydrogenated.” Read all the labels!

Eliminate all processed foods; they are high in
trans-fats

Use only olive oil for cooking and salads

Take a tablespoon of flaxseed oil daily for the first
30 days. If your skin is not getting better, switch to 6-9 perles of sesame
seed oil daily for the next 30 days. Again, if there is no improvement, switch
to six perles of black current seed oil for the next 30 days. Again, if there
is not sufficient improvement, switch to 6-9 capsules of fish oil daily.

Eat fatty fish such a salmon, mackerel or herring twice
a week.

The idea behind this program is to rebalance the “good”
and “bad” oils in your body. Most skin problems are caused by eating the wrong
kind of fats, so making the switch is critical to eliminating eczema. Depending
on the severity of the problem it may take awhile for this process to show
noticeable results. While you are doing this rebalancing you will want to take
other supplements to nourish your body from within.

Avoid

Cut down on your intake of sugar and regular cooking fats. Many baked goods are very high in procesed oils which produce trans-fats, thw rorst kind of fat. Avoid products with hydrogenated oils, as these oils have been changed chemically.

Fast foods are laden with saturated fats, partially hydrogenated oils and other types of higly processed oils used to flavor and texturize prepared and fast foods. Saturated fats are high in arachidonic acid which causes inflammation.

Commercial soaps. Many soaps have fragrances or
other harsh chemicals that irritate the skin and strip out the natural oils
that the skin needs.

Chlorine can be quite irritating to the skin and
is found in most municipal water supplies. Drink filtered water and get a
shower-head attachment that filters out chlorine and other contaminants. When
you shower your body absorbs a lot of chlorine, and, as you breathe the water
vapor, you inhale even more. Although taking a bath is not quite as bad, there
is still chlorine in the water. We suggest purchasing a Crystal Ball Bath
De-Chlorinator (about $35) that you place in the bath to remove the chlorine.

Antacids reduce the amount of stomach acid you
are producing, thereby hindering proper digestion. Contrary to the ads on TV,
people need more stomach acid, not
less, to digest food properly. Bad digestion and related problems can lead to
skin problems.

Household cleansers are laden with harsh
chemicals that can irritate the skin.

Steroid creams make the skin thin, leading to
bleeding.

Wool or synthetic fabrics. They promote itching.
Use cotton or other natural fiber clothing instead.

Nutritional deficiencies certainly play a part in skin
problems. Skin is your largest organ and needs to get “fed” just like
the rest
of your body. With today’s overload of toxins in the air, our food, and
personal care products, the skin needs all the help it can get. In
recent years
people have tried to cut out fat in their diet for over-all heath
concerns.
However, many people cut out all fat and don’t realize that fat is an
essential
part of the body’s nutritional needs. Essential fats are necessary for
nearly
all of the body’s functions! Your body desperately requires fats for
ultimate
skin health. If your eczema is caused by a nutritional deficiency, your
skin
should quickly return to normal once the deficiency is corrected.

B-vitamins are crucial, as these
vitamins aid digestion, boost the immune system and are vital for
healthy skin.
Deficiencies of B6 and biotin are sometimes linked to dermatitis.
However,
taking a complete B-complex will be most beneficial because the
B-vitamins work
in concert, and taking individual ones will not produce the necessary
relief.
We recommend a high-potency B-complex multi-vitamin, such as Solgar’s
VM-75.

Black current seed oil will supply the essential
fatty acids needed to alleviate eczema. Take three to six perles daily.
See
information on essential fatty acids (EFAs) below.

Borage oil is the richest source of
one of the essential fatty acids, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). GLA is
required
for the formation and maintenance of healthy skin cell membranes. Many
people
are deficient in this essential fatty acid and consequently experience
chronic
skin problems. For more information, see EFAs below.

Chlorophyll-rich foods, such as
spirulina, blue-green algae, chlorella and wheat grass, purify the blood
and
support healthy skin.

Cod liver oil is one of the age-old
standbys for eczema.

Enzymes may be at low levels in
people with eczema. One study showed that lipase and trypsin levels in
pancreatic juice were low, as well as blood levels of amylase.
Supplementing
with these enzymes will help eliminate the imbalance.

Essential fatty acids (EFAs)
are
beneficial fats needed for many functions of the body, and are needed to
repair
damaged skin cells and keep the skin lubricated. They occur in high
concentrations in flaxseed, evening primrose and fish oils, and in
smaller
concentrations in other oils. These fatty acids help regulate
prostaglandins,
which govern many processes, including inflammation. Prostaglandins
strongly
influence skin health. They are not stored in the body but must be
synthesized
from essential fatty acids that come from one’s diet. A deficiency in
EFAs can
be devastating to the skin. A deficiency in one of the EFAs,
gamma-linolenic
acid (GLA) can lead to an imbalance of prostaglandins, which in turn can
lead
to skin dryness, itching and eczema. GLA is found in evening primrose
oil (9%),
black currant oil (17%), and borage oil (24%). People with eczema have
trouble
with their digestion of essential fatty acids, so taking these EFAs will
be
very important in overcoming your eczema.

Evening primrose oil (EPO) provides a beneficial
balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids and can relieve the symptoms
of
eczema and help normalize the digestion of essential fatty acids. EPO
also is a
rich source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid that
is
critical to skin health, and helps to moderate inflammation. GLA has
been
approved in England for treating eczema. Aging, diet and stress reduce
enzymes
that can convert other essential fatty acids to GLA, so using
supplements will
supply the body’s needs. It has been reported that over half of eczema
sufferers improve after taking EPO supplementation and topically. 1,000
mg 3 times a day for two weeks, then
reduce the dose to 500 mg 3 times a day. In addition, apply topically
twice a
day. See our product.

Fish provide many essential fatty
acids. Many people with eczema may not be able to metabolize other forms
of
essential fatty acids properly, so taking fish oil supplements (1.8 gr
EPA
daily) or eating cold-water fish may be the best way to obtain these
nutrients.
MaxEPA is a good product.

Flaxseed oil provides the body with
Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids which will help nourish the skin from
within.
We recommend Barlean’s or Omega Flo brands. You may also buy whole
flaxseeds
and grind them up and sprinkle them on cereal or salads. Do not use
capsules
for two reasons: they may have sat on a shelf, unrefrigerated, and you
will
have to take a lot of them to equal the same amount of flaxseed oil from
a can,
thereby pushing the cost way up. Begin by taking one tablespoon daily
for two
weeks and see if there is any change. If no change has taken place,
increase
dosage by one tablespoon for the next two to three weeks, and keep
increasing
the dose one tablespoon at a time until the desired result occurs. Using
flaxseed oil in conjunction with EPO, the body is far more likely to
convert
GLA to beneficial prostaglandins, thereby reducing inflammation. The
Omega-3
fatty acids also inhibit the body’s production of inflammation-causing
arachidonic acid found in saturated fat. The Essential Woman brand from
Barlean’s combines both evening primrose and flaxseed oils. You can also
take
flaxseed oil in conjunction with black current seed oil or sesame oil.

Herbs can be helpful in restoring
and maintaining skin health, but you must remember that the healing
process is
slow and may take many months. Be patient. Use some of the recommended
herbs
listed below.

Oiling of the skin has proven to
be very helpful in maintaining healthy skin. Ayurvedic medicine
recommends a
whole body oiling with sesame, sunflower or coconut oil once a week.
Don’t do
this if you are pregnant or have broken skin.

Sesame seed oil will provide the essential
fatty acids to alleviate eczema. Take three to six perles daily, or one
teaspoon of raw oil.

Vitamin C and bioflavonoids are extremely helpful in
controlling eczema. At least 1,000 mg of each daily.

Vitamins
A, D and E are also
essential for healthy, well-nourished skin that heals rapidly. Vitamins A
and E
are fat-soluble antioxidants which are essential for clear skin. Take
10,000 IU
of vitamin A daily.

Water Many people are dehydrated
and don’t even know it. You need to drink eight 8- ounce glasses of
water for
proper hydration. The skin needs water to maintain proper elasticity,
and,
since it is exposed to the elements, is the first organ to be affected
by a
lack of water. In addition, water will help flush out allergens that may
be
causing the skin irritation.

Zinc Many people with eczema
have been shown to be deficient in this mineral. Take 50 mg daily. Zinc
is also
important in fatty acid metabolism, so a lack of zinc may be why many
eczema
sufferers have trouble digesting the fatty acids.

Remedies

Aloe is very
soothing and helps promote healing of the skin. Use a cream, gel or pure aloe
juice at least twice a day. Drink an ounce of juice after each meal. This will
aid digestion and strengthen the lining of your intestines, thereby preventing
toxins from re-entering the bloodstream.

Alum Make a
wash of alum and dab on the affected area with a cotton ball or clean cloth.

Amaranth Make a
tea by adding 2 teaspoons of seeds to three cups of boiling water; cover and
simmer for five minutes; steep for 30 minutes. Use as a wash and/or drink two
cups daily.

Apis Use to
treat rashes and inflammation.

Apple cider vinegar
(ACV) Drink 1-2 tablespoons of ACV with each meal. In addition, dilute some
ACV and dab on the skin. As we mentioned in the Causes section above, a
deficiency in chloride of potassium is a possible cause, and that mineral is
contained in apples.

Avocado oil,
used over a long period of time, has proven quite beneficial for treating
eczema. This may be because avocado oil is rich in vitamins A, D and E, all of
which help maintain healthy skin. Use this oil either topically, internally or
on salads.

Blackstrap molasses
Eat one tablespoon daily.

Borage
oil/frankincense Make a balm by mixing several drops of the essential oil
of frankincense with some borage oil. This mixture is especially good for dry,
hardened skin. You may have to experiment with the mixture to get the formula
right for you.

Brewer’s yeast
Eat 2 tablespoons daily.

Burdock root stimulates the liver and
gall bladder to increase bile flow and is indicated for chronic skin diseases
with inflammation. Burdock root is probably the most widely used blood
purifier, and therefore is beneficial in various skin conditions. Traditional
Chinese Medicine uses the seeds of burdock root extensively for dry, itchy, and
scaly skin conditions. To make a tea, add 4 teaspoons of the root to one quart
of boiling water, simmer for 7 minutes,
then steep for two hours. Drink at least two cups a day on an empty stomach.
Can also be used as a skin wash. Four capsules daily may also be taken instead
of the tea.

Burdock/Chamomile
decoction Put 1 oz. of dried burdock seed and 1 oz. of dried chamomile flowers
into one pint of boiling water; simmer for 10-15 minutes; strain through
cheesecloth or other fine cloth. Use cool. Drink two ounces, four times daily,
for two weeks,

Calendula is antibacterial,
antifungal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory and is ideal for all types of skin
problems. It helps speed wound healing. Buy a calendula cream or make a balm by
combining equal parts of calendula and vegetable oils.

Calendula and Vaseline Melt a tablespoon of
Vaseline with two tablespoons of calendula petals; strain and keep in a clean
jar. This is useful if you are not allergic to Vaseline.

Cat’s claw helps promote healing of the
skin. See our product.

Chamomile is anti-inflammatory. Make
a tea and use as a compress. Some people get a reaction to chamomile because it
is a member of the ragweed family.

German chamomile essential oil. Make sure you get this
product without impurities, as the impurities in cheap products may actually
cause dermatitis. This is one product not to shop for based on price! German
chamomile oil is an anti-allergic remedy used in aromatherapy, and is
especially good on allergic patches of eczema. It may also be diluted to skin
tolerance (use one drop of chamomile essential oil in one teaspoon of cold
pressed almond or olive oil). If you cannot tolerate oil, use one teaspoon of
an unscented moisturizing gel or cream.

Balm Mix some chamomile, lavender and/or lemon balm in a
little carrier oil and massage on the skin.

Chamomile/sage/geranium/lavender
essential oils Blend with a carrier oil and massage on affected area.

Chickweed ointment may be applied to the
inflamed area.

Chaparral This herb has been used
successfully by Native American Indians for many conditions. Put the contents
of two capsules into a pint of just boiled water; let cool and strain very fine
cloth. Soak a clean cloth in the tea and apply to the eczema for 15 minutes
twice daily.

Cucumber has a long history of
soothing skin irritations. Put some cucumber in a blender along with a carrier
oil, such as avocado or sesame, and gently apply to the affected area and leave
it there for up to an hour. You can also rub cucumber juice on the skin to
soothe the inflammation.

Emu oil diminishes irritation and
inflammation. May be used as the oil of choice for any of our remedies. Emu oil
is high in both linoleic and linolenic essential fatty acids. See our product.

Feverfew This herb has an
anti-inflammatory effect by curbing inflammatory agents called leukotrienes.
See our product.

Figwort has an alterative effect on
the lymph, blood and skin.

Fish oil Apply to skin, cover with
flannel and tape on.

Garlic Make a skin salve by mixing
equal parts of zinc-oxide ointment and lanolin until thoroughly blended; add an
equal amount of garlic powder a little at a time to keep from clumping. Blend
til smooth. Store in a covered jar.

Glycerine/borax Make a mixture of two
ounces of glycerine with a teaspoon of boric acid.

Goat’s milk Drink daily.

Goldenseal helps promote healing of
the skin.

Goldenseal/honey Make a mixture, apply to
the afflicted area, wrap with a clean cloth, and leave on overnight.

Gotu kola, an Ayurvedic herb,
stimulates the regeneration of skin cells, and in clinical trials has proven
beneficial in treating eczema.

Horsetail This herb promotes healing of
the skin.

Jewelweed Also known as impatiens and
touch-me-nots, jewelweed can be used to stop the itch and dry the blisters. Rub
the affected area with the leaves from this plant. Clinical studies have shown
that this method works as well as cortisone creams. The juice from the stems
can also be used; rub it on gently several times a day and let dry. Excessive
rubbing, however, will irritate the area. A third variation is to boil the
leaves, stems and flowers until the water turns a deep orange, and swab the
affected area or apply as a compress. This method may be easier for large
areas.

Lavender oil Apply pure essential
lavender oil to the eczema nightly for a month in order to see results.
Lavender is a skin-healing aromatherapy oil. Eczema is aggravated by stress and
the lavender helps relieve the stress and reduces the itching. Mix a few drops
of lavender oil with either almond or olive oil.

Lemon juice Dab the affected area with
freshly squeezed lemon juice. Although this will sting at first, it will help
the skin heal quickly.

Mix one tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of honey and a pinch of
cayenne pepper in a glass of warm water and drink every morning before
breakfast.

Lemon oil Mix 8 drops of the essential
oil of lemon with a tablespoon of honey and add the mixture to a cup of warm
water. Soak a clean cloth in the mixture, wring out the excess, and wrap the
affected area. Leave on for 20 minutes. Repeat 2-3 times a day. The lemon wrap
will help prevent infection and will cut down on the urge to scratch. Honey is
anti-inflammatory. Follow each treatment
by gently rubbing some evening primrose oil on the eczema. This will help
regenerate the skin.

Marigold This herb has
anti-inflammatory properties. Can be taken internally, or you can make a strong
infusion and bathe the affected area. Make a tea by adding 1 oz. of flowers to
1 pint of boiling water; steep, strain and take as required.

Neem oil, used in Ayurvedic medicine
for centuries, moisturizes and protects the skin while it helps heal the
lesions, scaling and irritation. It also has a cooling effect, and is an
effective analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent. Neem is probably one of the
most beneficial treatments for eczema.

Nettle Take some leaves and make a
decoction; boil it down until it is a paste.

Make an infusion and drink a cup once or twice daily or use as a wash.

Oatmeal Use an oatmeal soap daily
instead of regular soap. Oatmeal is good for all kinds of skin irritations as
it contains soothing substances that help relieve the itch. You can also put a
cup of oatmeal in your bath. Another way to use oatmeal is to make a thin paste
and put it on the affected area; let dry and gently wipe off. Put a big handful
of oatmeal in a cloth, thoroughly wet it, and use it to scrub yourself clean.

Oregon grape Take one dropper three
times daily until relieved.

Plantain Crush the leaves and rub on
the skin.

Potatoes, raw Eating two a day for several
weeks has been very successful in many cases. Be careful, however, if you are
allergic to nightshades.

Potato/camphor Make a poultice of fresh
potato and a small amount of camphor.

Red clover is an alterative for the
lymphatic system and is helpful for eczema. Can be used both orally and
topically. It has anti-inflammatory properties.

Tea, oolong This partially fermented tea
has a high concentration of polyphenols that may be the reason for its success
in healing eczema. It also has tannins which soothe inflammation. Drinking 4-5
cups a day for a month should produce marked improvement in your condition. The
benefits of drinking oolong tea were reported in the Archives of Dermatology in 2001.

Turmeric is good for any
inflammatory skin condition. Can be used as a dry powder, or made into a paste
with water or a carrier oil. Turmeric may also be combined with DMSO, which
helps carry the healing properties into the skin.

Vitamin E oil Apply to affected area.

Vitamin E oil mixed with goldenseal is
good for dry, itchy patches. Vitamin E cream mixed with evening primrose oil is
also helpful.

Watercress Eat a few teaspoons daily.
Watercress helps purify the blood. The juice of watercress may also be applied
to the skin.

Witch hazel contains generous amounts of
tannins, astringents that are helpful with skin problems. It also promotes
blood flow to the damaged area. The German Commission E has endorsed the use of
witch hazel in treating dermatitis. You can dab some on with a cotton ball or
put the witch hazel in a spray bottle and use as needed.

Yellowdock root is used specifically for
chronic skin conditions that are wet, oozing or oily, often accompanied by
constipation. Take 4 capsules three times a day.

Homeopathic Remedies

Calcarea carbonica 30C for itchy patches on your
face and scalp that are slow to get better, but improve in dry weather and
worsen when the temperature drops.

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